Fantastic end to 2018 so bring on 2019.
Dec 30, 2018 11:04:01 GMT
Russgas, Strange Gas, and 12 more like this
Post by stevek192 on Dec 30, 2018 11:04:01 GMT
So after back to back wins we travelled to the Kassam which has been a happy hunting ground on the last five visits but I have to say that I had this feeling that this game would be the toughest of the four holiday period fixtures for that very reason as you always feel that a good run has to come to an end had we lost yesterday it would have been very much a case of a turnaround in our fortunes being ended by the end of a fantastic run of results. To my delight the sound of "We always win at Oxford" and " We did it again" rang out around the Kassam for the last half hour although I was thinking at the time that I hoped we weren't being premature because it would have only taken one goal to suddenly put that record in contention. As it was as hard a working display as I have seen from our team was enough to make it three wins on the trot which I understand has not been achieved since 2014. As I often say the toughest game is always the next game but at least we can look forward to Tuesdays game against Burton as being a very winnable one and even if the worst happens 9 points out of 12 would be an incredible return.
This is very much a case of consistent results from a consistent team and GC named an unchanged team again and at the moment it is very much a case of everything he touches turns to gold. in truth with the January window opening next week I really think a decision must be made on the future Manager and although in some ways it looks an easy call it is probably the most important decision this Board have ever made and the truth is that this decision will be looked on not based on the last four games but in 10 games time, 20 games time and even years ahead. In many ways the decision would have been a lot easier had we not had such a spectacular revival under GC. The Board have to consider if in their eyes GC is the man for the job because there are two ways the decision can go- on one hand you could look at Terry Coopers appointment ahead of a very impressive temporary charge of Harold Jarman and Dennis Rofes appointment compared to DC's appointment that was very divided after relegation but a decision that proved right. I am glad that I don't have to make that decision !!
Bonham 7.5 Probably had a bit of luck with the shot straight at him that he scooped over the bar but that aside he was commanding and reliable as ever. We really need to make an effort to sign him but an important factor is does he want to sign for us anyway?
J. Clarke 8 Without doubt has hit the best form of his career and sticks at his task however difficult it gets. In truth not much danger came from his side which may have also been due to Oxfords better players being on the right but that cannot detract from a confident display.
Lockyer 8 Starting to stand out again as a quality defender with the ability to read situations before they happen. May well find we get a bid from a higher club for him but lets hope not as it is when someone has gone that you find his true worth.
Craig 8 For those who say he was a terrible signing I say rubbish. Ok he is not a Flint but he holds his own against most strikers and yesterday was a mainstay in a back four that IMO did well against an Oxford side who based on recent results were starting to pull away from the relegation zone and now find themselves behind us which is testimony to our own form.
Kelly 6 The weakest of the back four yesterday and possibly picked as such tactically by Oxford but more likely that Oxfords better players were on that side because not sure that Karl Robinson is bright enough to be that tactically aware. To be fair to Kelly he stuck to his task and made some useful contributions as the game went on. Certainly worth sticking with him unless the Manager feels that he has a better option to Holmes -Dennis in the left wing position. Personally I think the partnership is worth persevering with and as long as supporters don't get on Kellys back he could well develop as Michael Smith did a few years back.
Rodman 7 Not as influential as in the previous game but still a pivot point for any aerial balls. For a winger very similar to Andy Monkhouse but the added threat of pace and a trick or two. Sure he will be a key player this season and at last provides the balance we have been sadly missing this season.
Upson 8.5 Another player who has been subjected wrongly IMO to being a terrible signing and now is shining knowing that if he plays well he will keep his place. He was the dominant force yesterday and covered the whole pitch in an enterprising display which provides a bit of defensive stability but also a creative influence going forward and it is amazing just how many times he gets a foot in and wins the ball back. A key reason why we have maybe turned the corner.
O. Clarke 6.5 Feel that GC took a real chance by keeping him on after his booking because in such a battle and with two poor referees there was always the chance of "that late tackle going in". Thankfully it did not detract from Ollies tackling although it was a bit of an in and out game for him where he seemed to go missing too often.
Holmes-Dennis 7 Not as good as the previous two games but that is not surprising considering the time he has been out injured and it is brilliant to think that he has played three games in quick succession and shown us why DC thought that he had made such a big signing.The truth is that it very much looks like he had because we have a player who IMO is probably a Championship standard full back who is too good for this standard and because of that is well capable of playing in the more forward position and providing that bit of class with his deliveries and confidence and ability on the ball.
Reilly 6.5 Maybe a bit low a mark for a player who again ran his socks off without really getting any rewards. Probably should have done better with a chance in the first half but that cannot take away from the hard working display that closed down opponents. I really believe that his time will come and maybe next game it will be him who is taking the plaudits with a couple of goals.
Jakubiak 9 MOM Stand out player on the pitch with two classy goals which could so easily have been four. In my last report at Walsall I said "his direct running and control will surely be rewarded with a few goals soon" and yesterday was very much a case of "cometh the moment cometh the man". The first goal was direct running at defenders with a devastating shot into the right hand corner from the edge of the box and the second a deft turn and control that left the centre half floundering in his wake and the pace to break clear and beat the keeper with ease as he slid the ball in the far corner of the net to the delight of the travelling fans.
Subs:
Sercombe 7 Was obviously biting at the bit to get on the pitch against his previous club and immediately nade an impact with his strong running and battling qualities. Very close to scoring and surely based on yesterday it is a question of whether he provides us with a better option alongside Upson for a home fixture. personally I feel that GC will opt for an unchanged team on Tuesday.
Nichols 5.5 Much the same as usual in that he didn't give the ball away but also didn't look like scoring
Crowd 10 Numbers cannot be complained about as our capacity was completely sold out and no doubt there were hundreds more who would have loved to have been there but couldn't get tickets. The ones who did attend gave the side tremendous backing throughout and in all honesty it was very much like a home game with the home supporters very quiet and almost resigned to suffering their usual fate.
Refs 3 The pair of them 3 each that is not 1.5 each. How the Oxford central defensive partnership got away with continual shirt pulling and man handling I will never know but inconsistency in decision making is always my biggest gripe and this game was no different. The first ref was poor but if anything the second one was worst or at the very best the same. We won so I have gone with the same mark..in fact who bloody cares!!
Oxford 4.5 What a bunch of whingers and very much the case of reflecting their Manager the same as Fleetwood with Barton. I have never liked Karl Robinson and nothing about his after match comments would make me change my mind- the bloke is a first class p--t and with the result got what he deserved- nothing and don't get me started on Jamie Mackie!! They looked similar to us a few weeks ago but with an edge of cheating and constant fouling about them. please don't get relegated though because if we manage to stay up we want our three points next season!!
GC 10 Has transformed us from a team that didn't look capable of winning to one that look winners. Can't criticise him at all. Is he the man for the job? I stand on the fence- Thank God I haven't to make this decision although I would be edging towards giving him the job until the end of the season.
So we conclude our holiday fixtures with a game against Nigel Clough's improving Burton. Let's hope we don't go for a burton and can make it the perfect 12 out of 12. Unbelievable.
UTG
This is very much a case of consistent results from a consistent team and GC named an unchanged team again and at the moment it is very much a case of everything he touches turns to gold. in truth with the January window opening next week I really think a decision must be made on the future Manager and although in some ways it looks an easy call it is probably the most important decision this Board have ever made and the truth is that this decision will be looked on not based on the last four games but in 10 games time, 20 games time and even years ahead. In many ways the decision would have been a lot easier had we not had such a spectacular revival under GC. The Board have to consider if in their eyes GC is the man for the job because there are two ways the decision can go- on one hand you could look at Terry Coopers appointment ahead of a very impressive temporary charge of Harold Jarman and Dennis Rofes appointment compared to DC's appointment that was very divided after relegation but a decision that proved right. I am glad that I don't have to make that decision !!
Bonham 7.5 Probably had a bit of luck with the shot straight at him that he scooped over the bar but that aside he was commanding and reliable as ever. We really need to make an effort to sign him but an important factor is does he want to sign for us anyway?
J. Clarke 8 Without doubt has hit the best form of his career and sticks at his task however difficult it gets. In truth not much danger came from his side which may have also been due to Oxfords better players being on the right but that cannot detract from a confident display.
Lockyer 8 Starting to stand out again as a quality defender with the ability to read situations before they happen. May well find we get a bid from a higher club for him but lets hope not as it is when someone has gone that you find his true worth.
Craig 8 For those who say he was a terrible signing I say rubbish. Ok he is not a Flint but he holds his own against most strikers and yesterday was a mainstay in a back four that IMO did well against an Oxford side who based on recent results were starting to pull away from the relegation zone and now find themselves behind us which is testimony to our own form.
Kelly 6 The weakest of the back four yesterday and possibly picked as such tactically by Oxford but more likely that Oxfords better players were on that side because not sure that Karl Robinson is bright enough to be that tactically aware. To be fair to Kelly he stuck to his task and made some useful contributions as the game went on. Certainly worth sticking with him unless the Manager feels that he has a better option to Holmes -Dennis in the left wing position. Personally I think the partnership is worth persevering with and as long as supporters don't get on Kellys back he could well develop as Michael Smith did a few years back.
Rodman 7 Not as influential as in the previous game but still a pivot point for any aerial balls. For a winger very similar to Andy Monkhouse but the added threat of pace and a trick or two. Sure he will be a key player this season and at last provides the balance we have been sadly missing this season.
Upson 8.5 Another player who has been subjected wrongly IMO to being a terrible signing and now is shining knowing that if he plays well he will keep his place. He was the dominant force yesterday and covered the whole pitch in an enterprising display which provides a bit of defensive stability but also a creative influence going forward and it is amazing just how many times he gets a foot in and wins the ball back. A key reason why we have maybe turned the corner.
O. Clarke 6.5 Feel that GC took a real chance by keeping him on after his booking because in such a battle and with two poor referees there was always the chance of "that late tackle going in". Thankfully it did not detract from Ollies tackling although it was a bit of an in and out game for him where he seemed to go missing too often.
Holmes-Dennis 7 Not as good as the previous two games but that is not surprising considering the time he has been out injured and it is brilliant to think that he has played three games in quick succession and shown us why DC thought that he had made such a big signing.The truth is that it very much looks like he had because we have a player who IMO is probably a Championship standard full back who is too good for this standard and because of that is well capable of playing in the more forward position and providing that bit of class with his deliveries and confidence and ability on the ball.
Reilly 6.5 Maybe a bit low a mark for a player who again ran his socks off without really getting any rewards. Probably should have done better with a chance in the first half but that cannot take away from the hard working display that closed down opponents. I really believe that his time will come and maybe next game it will be him who is taking the plaudits with a couple of goals.
Jakubiak 9 MOM Stand out player on the pitch with two classy goals which could so easily have been four. In my last report at Walsall I said "his direct running and control will surely be rewarded with a few goals soon" and yesterday was very much a case of "cometh the moment cometh the man". The first goal was direct running at defenders with a devastating shot into the right hand corner from the edge of the box and the second a deft turn and control that left the centre half floundering in his wake and the pace to break clear and beat the keeper with ease as he slid the ball in the far corner of the net to the delight of the travelling fans.
Subs:
Sercombe 7 Was obviously biting at the bit to get on the pitch against his previous club and immediately nade an impact with his strong running and battling qualities. Very close to scoring and surely based on yesterday it is a question of whether he provides us with a better option alongside Upson for a home fixture. personally I feel that GC will opt for an unchanged team on Tuesday.
Nichols 5.5 Much the same as usual in that he didn't give the ball away but also didn't look like scoring
Crowd 10 Numbers cannot be complained about as our capacity was completely sold out and no doubt there were hundreds more who would have loved to have been there but couldn't get tickets. The ones who did attend gave the side tremendous backing throughout and in all honesty it was very much like a home game with the home supporters very quiet and almost resigned to suffering their usual fate.
Refs 3 The pair of them 3 each that is not 1.5 each. How the Oxford central defensive partnership got away with continual shirt pulling and man handling I will never know but inconsistency in decision making is always my biggest gripe and this game was no different. The first ref was poor but if anything the second one was worst or at the very best the same. We won so I have gone with the same mark..in fact who bloody cares!!
Oxford 4.5 What a bunch of whingers and very much the case of reflecting their Manager the same as Fleetwood with Barton. I have never liked Karl Robinson and nothing about his after match comments would make me change my mind- the bloke is a first class p--t and with the result got what he deserved- nothing and don't get me started on Jamie Mackie!! They looked similar to us a few weeks ago but with an edge of cheating and constant fouling about them. please don't get relegated though because if we manage to stay up we want our three points next season!!
GC 10 Has transformed us from a team that didn't look capable of winning to one that look winners. Can't criticise him at all. Is he the man for the job? I stand on the fence- Thank God I haven't to make this decision although I would be edging towards giving him the job until the end of the season.
So we conclude our holiday fixtures with a game against Nigel Clough's improving Burton. Let's hope we don't go for a burton and can make it the perfect 12 out of 12. Unbelievable.
UTG